Disappearing Destinations

Book excerpt: Current climatic and environmental trends mean that a large number of important coastal destinations across the globe are under threat of change or gradual disappearance. Many of these locations are also significant tourist destinations, such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Everglades National Park or large swathes of the Mediterranean basin. Tourism activity both exacerbates the problem and highlights the importance of protecting these often fragile environments. This book discusses threats to, and consequences of, tourism growth and the impacts of climate change on such coastal zones. It examines policy initiatives, local and national options for managing the potential crisis and recommends steps and management options towards ameliorating projected impacts on coastal tourism infrastructure. This is an important book for researchers and students of leisure and tourism, land-use planning, environmental and coastal management and all those interested in and working with the environment, conservation and sustainability.